‘Three Princes’ Awe Vancouver Charles, Sons William And Harry Visit City En Route To Whistler

Even princes get to go on spring break.

Prince Charles planned a full day of public events around this Western Canada city today before taking his two sons to British Columbia’s world famous Whistler ski resort for a private vacation.

The Vancouver leg of the trip also marks one of the few public appearances by Prince William, 15, second-in-line to the British throne behind his father.

Charles and Prince Harry, 13, arrived by private jet early Monday evening and headed for a reception hosted by Lt.-Gov. Garde Gardom.

William, who never flies with his father in case of a crash, arrived at the hotel soon after to delighted screams from a crowd of about 200, many of them young girls.

He left some fans disappointed with his brisk entrance.

“William snubbed us,” said Shannon Suggitt, 18, who nonetheless told Canadian Press, “I would marry him. He’s beautiful.”

Earlier, Harry was gently steered by his father to some enthusiastic bystanders and shyly accepted two single red roses while Charles chatted for a couple of minutes before the two were whisked inside.

Lindsay Dixon, 17, of suburban Surrey, had been waiting all day but didn’t get to shake Harry’s hand.

“He was so close,” she said. “It was kind of nerve-wracking. They’re royal. He’s rich.”

Jessica Larochelle, 19, was holding a sign that read, “William - It’s Me You’ve Been Looking For.”

Thousands of people are expected to line the streets outside two stops on the royal itinerary, but the visit will be so brief that royal watchers will be lucky to catch even a glimpse of William, whom the local press has compared to movie star Leonardo DiCaprio.

“There is a lot of interest. A lot of people here had family or parents who came from Scotland and England,” said Fred Randall, a member of the Provincial Legislature of British Columbia who will be among the official greeters when Charles visits a high school in Burnaby.

“I guess there’s also a lot of interest because of the death of the princes’ mother. There’s been so much press worldwide about the family overall.”

Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a Paris car crash in August.

St. James’ Palace has emphasized that Charles’ main purpose in making the weeklong trip - it’s William’s first official visit abroad since his mother’s death, and Harry’s second - is to enjoy a spring holiday with his sons and show them a part of the world he loves.

If all goes according to plan, the boys will hardly be seen in public. The royal family agreed to one photo opportunity in Vancouver, and there is expected to be one opportunity for the media to see the family skiing together at Whistler.

After arriving Monday evening on a jet provided by a wealthy Canadian friend, Charles was scheduled to get the red-carpet treatment as he’s whisked from one spot to another around the Vancouver area while William and Harry check out exhibits at the Pacific Space Center, which will be closed to the public during their visit.

Charles’ itinerary was designed to appeal to some of the Prince of Wales’ personal causes - health care, education and the environment.

He was scheduled to visit a nursing home and an awards ceremony hosted by the Campaign for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. He also was scheduled to visit a state-of-the-art high school that has integrated deaf students with the general student population.

“The Three Princes,” as dubbed by a local tabloid, were to reunite at a ceremony celebrating British Columbia’s coastal beauty before heading off to Whistler for four days of fun on the slopes. Charles and William will make the trip in separate helicopters to avoid the risk that the top two heirs to the British throne might be killed in a single accident.

While at the ski resort, the princes will be the guests of Canadian billionaire Galen Weston, a polo buddy of Charles, and Weston’s wife, Hilary, who is Ontario’s lieutenant-governor. They’ll stay in a chalet owned by friends of the Westons.